Washington: Two United States senators introduced a bipartisan bill on Thursday aimed at boosting liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Taiwan and strengthening its energy infrastructure amidst China's growing aggression.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act of 2025 was sponsored by Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Chris Coons (D-DE), who serve as the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy. The bill is intended to ensure adequate U.S. energy shipments to Taiwan in the event of a contingency, as highlighted in a news release from Ricketts' office.

Taiwan imports nearly all of its energy, making it susceptible to actions from China, which have been described as illegal and coercive. Presently, the U.S. supplies 10 percent of Taiwan's LNG, positioning it as the island's third-largest source after Australia and Qatar, according to Taiwan's Energy Administration.

The proposed legislation mandates an increase in U.S. LNG exports to Taiwan and calls for collaboration with Taipei to enhance its energy infrastructure through security and resilience measures. Additionally, the bill seeks to establish a U.S.-Taiwan Energy Security Center to promote cooperation and academic exchange. It also encourages Taiwan to retain nuclear power as an energy source and adopt new technologies such as small modular reactors, with U.S. support for nuclear cooperation.

Pete Ricketts emphasized that energy security is a significant vulnerability for Taiwan, and strengthening its resilience serves the national security interests of both the U.S. and Taiwan. Chris Coons noted that China could employ various tactics to pressure Taiwan, including interfering with its fuel imports. He asserted that the bipartisan bill would help stabilize the region by permitting Taiwan to purchase more U.S. fuel and collaborate on next-generation nuclear energy, reducing its reliance on imports.